The victim’s 82-year-old mother, Constance Casalina of Larchmont, N.Y., survived with just a scratch on her arm. She told police the tire was upon them in a flash and her daughter had no time to react.

Scully said driving safely around big rigs involves two key factors — distance and road awareness. Road awareness means scanning in front, behind and to the sides of your vehicle.

“You got to give truck drivers more room. When you get in front of them, don’t cut them off. If you have to make a quick stop, they’re dragging several more tons behind them, they will not be able to stop and they will hit you.

“While you’re driving, you should be looking further down the road than just the next car in front of you. And that gives you a head’s up, an early warning as to whether there is trouble in front of you, more time to react to any danger that might pop up,” Scully said.

Mancuso and her mother were driving to Connecticut to visit family.

State police investigator Noel Nelson said they’re waiting to interview the driver to find out exactly what happened.